Ito seems to be suggesting that all men secretly want to — that the only thing preventing constant man-on-snail coupling are a few thin taboos which will warp and dissolve like cardboard before the smallest liquid spray of desire. This is, of course, the fever-dream behind the most alarmist kinds of homophobia; the terror, not so much that gays are recruiting, as that, with just a little prompting, men will embrace any excuse to abandon heterosexuality, and with it humanity.

History:Ken Quattro posts a meticulously researched account of the life of E. C. Stoner, possibly the first black comics artist and maybe even the creator of the Planters Mr. Peanut logo. (Hat tip: Sean Kleefeld.)

History:Johanna Draper Carlson writes about Spire Christian Comics, a line of Christian comics that were released in the 1970s and featured the Archie characters, created by Archie artist Al Hartley.

Awards:Larry Cruz handicaps this year’s Eisner nominees in the webcomics category, using Joss Whedon’s Sugarshock as a measuring stick.